Information regarding Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine

23 Nov 2022

The Victorian Government has announced that Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine is recommended and available for specific priority groups, including people who may be exposed to the virus where they live or work.

Wodonga Council will be offering Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccination at special Japanese Encephalitis only vaccination sessions (see below for more information) to the following priority groups:

Please note that the eligibility criteria for JE vaccination was recently expanded.

In Victoria, JE vaccine is available free-of-charge and recommended for:

  • High-risk local government areas
  • People aged two months or older who live or routinely work in any of the following local government areas of Campaspe, Gannawarra, Greater Shepparton, Indigo, Loddon, Mildura, Moira, Swan Hill, Wodonga, Towong, Benalla, Wangaratta and Strathbogie AND:
  • Spend significant time outdoors (four hours per day), for unavoidable work, recreational, educational or other essential activities; OR
  • Living in temporary or flood damaged accommodation (e.g. camps, tents, dwellings exposed to the external environment) that place them at increased risk of exposure to mosquitoes; OR
  • Are engaged in the prolonged outdoor recovery efforts (clean up) of stagnant waters following floods.*

*Vaccination can be administered after arrival in flood affected areas to those from other regions deployed for prolonged recovery efforts.
The risk of exposure to mosquitoes is low at an elevation of greater than 500 metres. Therefore, JE vaccination is only recommended for individuals who spend significant time outdoors below this elevation in these LGAs.

No restriction for people in local government areas:

  • Who work at, reside at, or have a planned non-deferable visit to a:
    • piggery, including but not limited to farm workers and their families (including children aged two months and older) living at the piggery, transport workers, veterinarians and others involved in the care of pigs
    • property that has been confirmed to be infected with JE virus
    • property suspected to be infected with JE virus
    • pork abattoir or pork rendering plant.
  • Who work directly with mosquitoes through their surveillance (field or laboratory based) or control and management, and indirectly through management of vertebrate mosquito-borne disease surveillance systems (e.g., sentinel animals) such as:
    • environmental health officers and workers (urban and remote)
    • entomologists
  • All diagnostic and research laboratory workers who may be exposed to the virus, such as persons working with JE virus cultures or mosquitoes with the potential to transmit JE virus; as per the Australian Immunisation Handbook.

The JE vaccination is now available free of charge to those in the above priority groups.
To book an appointment for JE vaccination, please phone Wodonga Council on 1800 655 360.

When making an appointment booking for JE vaccination, please advise if you fall into one of the following categories, as you may need an alternative vaccine brand or JE vaccination may not be recommended for you:

  • Immunocompromised
  • Aged less than nine months
  • Pregnant women (*women should avoid pregnancy for 28 days after vaccination*)
  • Breastfeeding women should not receive Imojev® because it is not known whether the virus is excreted in breast milk
  • People who have received immunoglobulin or blood product administration in the past three months
  • Anaphylaxis after a previous dose of any JE vaccine
  • Anaphylaxis after any component of a JE vaccine
  • People with an acute febrile illness

JE vaccination is also available through certain pharmacies and GP’s.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is spread to humans through mosquito bites. It may cause a rare and potentially life-threatening infection of the brain.

For further information on Japanese Encephalitis and other mosquito borne diseases and mosquito bite prevention, refer to the Beat the Bite website on the Better Health Channel: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/campaigns/beat-the-bite

Wodonga Council will be holding special Japanese Encephalitis only vaccination sessions on the following dates at the following venues:

  • William Pearson Hall, Kirkland Ave Euroa | November 28, 10.30am to 12.30pm
  • Nagambie Lakes Community House, 363 High St Nagambie | November 28, 2pm to 3pm